To the Editor.— At times, the practice of medicine seems to be guided by a is better treatment mentality. The rationale for this mentality is simple. If research has indicated that a given may be of some therapeutic benefit, then why not add it to the patient's total medical program? Thus, the medical regimen for a patient with chronic bronchitis who has hypoxemia and cor pulmonale has evolved to such an extent that a not-too-hypothetical program might include one or more pulmonary or cardiac medications, aerosol therapy, an oral expectorant agent, oxygen therapy (which may require different settings for sleep, rest, and exercise), postural drainage, chest vibration or percussion, vaccination for pneumococcal pneumonia and influenza, prophylactic use of antibiotics, low-salt diet, recommendations to stop smoking as well as initiate and maintain a general physical conditioning program, and, in some cases, antianxiety or antidepressant medications. The number